Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Good luck getting forward to that one.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

Look at that ball go through.

It was taken in front of Carey's face and still flying through.

Zak Crawley, who must be feeling a little rusty in addition to nerves gets a delivery which carries off the pitch from Aussie skipper Pat Cummins first up.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

It is not an 80,000 crowd but it is very hard to tell in this massive stadium.

Rest assured Stuart, we'll be sticking to the correct way of scoring.

Mitchell Starc still searching for the right length. His fifth and sixth balls are a little straighter but Haseeb Hameed knows where his off stump is and leaves elegantly.

Stuart Mitchell: 0-1... as an England supporter I look at that and think we've lost a wicket already. Thank goodness for the Aussie system. Just another two hours of dread to go.

Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

This season they have said there is very good carry on this ground. You have got to bowl a fuller length.

The MCG crowd roars Mitchell Starc to the crease but it's no-ball first up as he oversteps. His first legal delivery, wide outside of off stump, is left well alone by Haseeb Hameed.

Haseeb Hameed to face the left-arm pace of Mitchell Starc first up.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

I played here in front of 100 people for young England against young Australia. I did play here in front of 82,000. That was incredible. It was epic. The noise, the rolling sound, Bay 13, it is an extraordinary place.

Olly Monk: As a man of Kent I’m delighted to see Zak back in an England shirt playing in the Ashes Feel a bit for him though having to bat first in these conditions with that pitch that has more grass on it than most Sunday league football pitches.

Image source, Getty Images

England's players are wearing black armbands following the death of former England and Yorkshire captain Ray Illingworth, who has passed away aged 89.

The all-rounder, who led England to an away Test series victory over Australia in 1970-71, had been undergoing radiotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Illingworth played 61 Tests for England between 1958-1973, scoring 1,836 Test runs at an average of 23.24 and claimed 122 wickets at 31.20; he was captain 31 times, winning 12 of those matches.

He was quite a personality as well. You can read Illingworth's obituary here...

The national anthems are currently being sung at the MCG before play. All of England's players* are wearing cable knit jumpers which gives you a feel for the weather at the MCG.

*Durham's Mark Wood is the only exception, but they're a different breed up there when it comes to the weather.

Image source, Getty Images

Jimbo: Ooooooh, that pitch looks like 0-2 off two overs to me.

Zak Crawley spent a winter playing grade cricket in Perth in 2016-17 so I'm backing him for a big score today, Glenn.

Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

It is a massive ask for Zak Crawley coming in today.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

Since 2018-19 Scott Boland has 42 first-class wickets at an average of 14.3 on this ground.

Image source, Getty Images

Scott Boland is the second Aussie player of indigenous heritage to play for Australia's men's team after Jason Gillespie.

There have likewise only been two in Australia's women's team and my colleague Matthew Henry spoke to the most recent of those, Ashleigh Gardner, last year.

You can read his piece here...

Geoff Lemon
Australian journalist on Test Match Special

Australia have picked the MCG specialist in Scott Boland. He is also very skilful in conditions like this.

Ruth Brooksbank: I got some Cricket Ball baubles for Christmas. Looks like someone's had a go at the seam, hope the real ball is in better condition.

Image source, Twitter